sign in sign up
<<
Home , Anita Anand, Daniel Blaikie, Jenny Kwan, Raquel Dancho

May 7, 2021

SENT VIA EMAIL

The Right Honourable , Office of the Prime Minister

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,

Love My Neighbour (LMN) is a Canadian grassroots project founded by Millennium Kids and diverse faith communities to increase the number of COVID-19 vaccines distributed quickly and equitably in lower income countries. LMN has brought together of diverse faiths from across the country, united in our desire to see all people regardless of nationality, enjoy equitable access to life-saving COVID-19 vaccines. We encourage the Canadian government to join us in care for our neighbours through working for increased access to vaccines globally.

We recognize the efforts of the government to ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines for priority populations in Canada, as well as international financial support for COVAX. We also believe that Canada can play a greater leadership role to ensure vaccine equity, especially when it comes to prioritizing vaccine access for essential workers and the most vulnerable, around the world and here in Canada.

Canada has currently purchased enough vaccines to vaccinate Canada’s population many times over. Vaccine inequality will only prolong the global pandemic.

We urge the creation and rapid implementation of a re-distribution and donation plan of Canada’s purchased and committed vaccine doses, including doses purchased from COVAX, to COVAX. Following the example of countries like Norway, we urge an immediate minimum 5% donation of Canada’s vaccines to COVAX. The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic must be timely and equitable if it is to be successful.

We also encourage Canadian support for the temporary Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver, presented to the World Trade Organization. This waiver will ensure that trade regulations and licensing do not impede the timely manufacture, distribution, and affordability of vaccines. Canada has maintained that it has not rejected this proposal, and it is studying the impacts of intellectual property regulations on vaccine manufacturing. While we affirm the importance of careful deliberation, we also urge a rapid response. Without the TRIPS waiver, many low- and middle-income countries may not have access to anywhere near sufficient vaccines before 2023, to say nothing of testing or medications for supportive care.

We also encourage Canada to continue to support global health systems strengthening through an increased Official Development Assistance budget, with funding specially designated for community-based health organizations, including those run by women.

Canada can lead the way in ensuring fair access, distribution and administration of the vaccine around the world. We would like to request a meeting with you or your designate to discuss how we can work together towards achieving the goals outlined in this letter, including the development of a matching fund for any donations made towards the purchase of global vaccines, global vaccine delivery and health support systems.

Signed:

Anglican Church of Canada Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples Canadian Baptist Ministries Canadian Council of Imams Canadian Multi-faith Federation Canadian Rohingya Development Initiative Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada Congrégation de Notre-Dame Human Concern International International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF) Intriciti Islamic Relief Canada KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives La fondation Anne Sophie Musique Mennonite Central Committee Millennium Kids National Muslim Christian Liaison Committee Zoroastrian Community Foundation The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada / Emergency Relief and Development Overseas The Presbyterian Church in Canada Primates Fund for World Relief and Development Reform Jewish Community of Canada Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations- Canada The United Church of Canada

Cc:

Hon. , Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Hon. , Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. , Minister of International Cooperation Hon. , Minister of International Trade Hon. Patty Hadju, Minister of Health Hon. Hon. Marco E. L. Mendicino, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Hon. , Minister of Public Services and Procurement Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of the Official Opposition Mr. , Leader of the M. Yves-François Blanchet, Chef du Bloc Québécois Ms. Annamie Paul, Leader, , Official Opposition Critic for Foreign Affairs Conservative Party of Canada Heather McPherson, New Democratic Party Critic for International Development Jack Harris, Critic for Foreign Affairs New Democratic Party Stephane Bergeron, Critic for Foreign Affairs Bloc Quebecois Hon. , Official Opposition Critic for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Conservative Party of Canada , Bloc Critic for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship , NPD Critic for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship , Official Opposition Critic, Export Promotion and Trade, Conservative Party of Canada , Official Opposition Critic, International Development and Human Rights, Conservative Party of Canada Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc Critic for Foreign Affairs Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc Critic for International Trade Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc Critic for Francophonie and International Cooperation , NDP Critic for Export Promotion and International Trade